New Delhi: The battle in the Election Commission has assumed unprecedented proportions with the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami recommending to the government removal of the other Election Commissioner Navin Chawla.
The recommendation comes about three months before Gopalaswami is to demit office on April 20 and is based on a petition by the BJP which had complained against the "partisan" functioning of Chawla.
The BJP had alleged that Chawla was close to the Congress party "I did my job. The report has been given," Gopalswami told PTI but declined to elaborate.
The Chief Election Commissioner's recommendation ahead of the general elections brings to the fore the differences among the three-member body which has often been marred by clashes over crucial decisions.Only last year, Chawla had raised serious objections to the holding of the Karnataka assembly elections in May but was over ruled.Similarly, he is believed to have also had reservations over the conduct of assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh in the summer of 2007.
Under the provisions of the Constitution, the recommendation of the CEC was required for the removal of an Election Commissioner. But it is not clear whether the government would act on the suo motu recommendation of the CEC for removal of Chawla. Sources said that Gopalaswami has believed to have given the recommendation but he was not sure whether the government would accept it.
The Commission works on the principle of consensus and in case of differences, it goes by majority opinion.Gopalaswami is understood to be of the view that Chawla and the other Election Commissioner S Y Qurashi could get together and ensure that the Lok Sabha elections could very well start after April 20 once he is out of the Commission.
BJP demanded Chawla's exit In 2006, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani and 204 MPs had submitted a petition to then President A P J Abdul Kalam seeking the removal of Chawla as Election Commissioner on the ground of alleged partisanship. The main opposition party also took the matter to the Supreme Court.
Gopalaswami in his affidavit to the apex court had claimed that the CEC had suo motu power to recommend the removal of an Election Commissioner. Following which the BJP withdrew its petition in the apex court and again took up the issue with the CEC.Government had maintained in the Supreme Court that the CEC had no suo motu power power to remove an Election Commissioner.
This is for the second time that removal of an Election Commissioner is coming up before the poll panel. In 1990, soon after the National Front government came to power, it removed two Commissioners appointed by the Rajiv Gandhi government by reducing the number of Commissioners from the three-member Commission just before the 1998 polls.
U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Friday to reverse labor policies from his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, that unions have long contended favored employers over workers.
Obama, who won significant backing from trade unions in his Democratic presidential campaign, said there could not be a strong middle class, the focus of his economic recovery plan, without a strong labor movement.
He signed three executive orders to bolster unions in the workplace and strengthen workers' rights.
"I believe we have to reverse many of the policies toward organized labor that we have seen over the past eight years, policies with which I have sharply disagreed," Obama told a gathering at the White House.
"Labor is not part of the problem, it is part of the solution," he said to loud applause from an audience that included representatives of labor unions and business groups.
On Thursday, Obama denounced as "shameless" lavish Wall Street bonuses for senior financial executives at a time when taxpayers' money was shoring up a financial system in crisis.
His spokesman, Robert Gibbs, told a news conference the president planned to address the issue of executive compensation, with meetings scheduled at the White House next week to discuss tighter regulation of the financial industry.
Obama discussed the economic crisis in a phone call with Chinese leader Hu Jintao, telling him the two countries needed to correct global trade imbalances and get credit markets flowing, the White House said.
The Chinese news agency Xinhua said Hu told Obama that China opposed trade or investment protectionism as part of settling the crisis and said Beijing would join Washington in promoting stable development at an economic summit in London in April.
ROLLING BACK BUSH'S POLICIES
Obama has spent much of his first 11 days in office rolling back some of his predecessor's policies. He has ordered the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison, begun reversing Bush's climate policies and lifted restrictions on U.S. government funding for groups that provide abortion services abroad.
The president spoke as new data showed the U.S. economy shrinking at its fastest rate in nearly 27 years and a day after the number of Americans seeking jobless benefits hit a record high.
"The recession is deepening and the urgency of our economic crisis is growing," Obama said. "This is a continuing disaster for America's families."
He announced the creation of a task force under Vice President Joe Biden to look at ways of raising middle-class living standards, a signature campaign promise.
Biden said his group would travel across the United States to canvass the views of ordinary Americans, holding meetings in different towns and cities each month.
The first of the three executive orders will prevent taxpayer funds being used to reimburse federal contractors who spend money "trying to influence the formation of unions."
A second will require federal contractors to inform employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. A third will ensure that qualified workers keep their jobs even when a federal contract changes hands.
The Teamsters, one of the most influential U.S. unions, called Obama's action a "new day for workers."
"We finally have a White House that is dedicated to working with us to rebuild our middle class. Hope for the American Dream is being restored," said Teamster President Jim Hoffa.
The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, welcomed "the dedication of this administration to reverse the anti-labor and anti-worker policies that have been in place the last eight years."
Obama, who was sworn in on Jan. 20, has said that fixing the economy is his top priority. He is pushing Congress to approve a $900 billion stimulus package to jolt the economy out of its worst crisis in decades.
Christina Romer, a top Obama economic adviser, said Friday's figures showing a 3.8 percent drop in gross domestic product in the fourth quarter made clear the financial crisis had spread to the whole economy.
Melbourne, Jan 31 (PTI) Yuki Bhambri today scripted history by becoming the first Indian to clinch the Australian Open junior singles title with an emphatic straight-set win over German Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas at the Melbourne Park here today. Top seed Yuki swept aside the unseeded Georgousdas 6-3 6-1 in 57 minutes to pocket his first Grand Slam singles title, becoming the fourth Indian to do so in the process.
The other Indians in the elite list are Ramanathan Krishnan (1954 Junior Wimbledon champion), his son Ramesh Krishnan (1970 Wimbledon and French Open junior champion) and Leander Paes (1990 Junior Wimbledon and Junior US Open champion). The Delhi boy, who lost in the semi-finals here last year, was at his dominant best from the start and seemed determined to lift the title this time.
He broke his German opponent in the fourth game of the opening set to go up 3-1 and then maintained his composure to seal it in 31 minutes. Yuki didn't look back and demolished Georgousdas 6-1 in just 26 minutes in the second set.
Yuki's dominance in the match was evident from the 29 winners he hit as compared to his opponent's 21. He also converted four out of the seven break points that he earned and didn't give away a single break point to the German.
Yuki, partnering Chinese Taipei's Liang-Chi Huang, also made it to the semi-finals of the boys' doubles event but the top-seeded duo lost to the Russian-Japanese pair of Mikhal Biryukov and Yasutaka Uchiyama 3-6 1-6 yesterday.
Were we surprised when our Bacchan bahu turned up in the list? The gorgeous Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has earned herself another international title -- she has made it to the list of the 'Top 50 Most Desirable Woman in the World'. The former Miss World was placed at number 48 in the annual AskMen.com poll.
Megan Fox - the sizzling hottie from Transformers made it to the second position. She's engaged to ex-Beverly Hills, 90210 star Brian Austin Green.
Scarlett Johansson: Her curvy bod and her sexy pout is enough to make every sinful fantasy come true.
Marisa Miller: Is it any wonder Victoria's Secret model Marisa Miller is on this list?
Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio was voted the sixth most desirable woman.
R&B singer Rihanna - known for her perky bottom and amazing legs - was voted eighth most desirable. 
Anne Hathway still rules her zone. A glamazon who ups her 'desirable' quotient with every movie that she makes.
Angelina Jolie: What surprised us when we saw the sexy better half of Brad Pitt in the number 42 position. We expected her to rule the charts... 
Jessica Alba : Our list would be would be incomplete without Jessica Alba in it. Be it bootylicious or sexy kissable lips, Jessica's on our list. And she makes it to number 15.
Penelope Cruz 'cruises' her way to number 25, to use a cliche of sorts.Davos, Jan 29 (PTI) In the backdrop of reports that the civilian government in Pakistan might not have control over the army often suspected to be behind terror attacks, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today said there was "total cohesion" between the army and the civilian administration.
"I will assure you that there is total cohesion and there is total cohesion and there is total unanimity of views between the army, intelligence agencies and the civilian government", Gilani said in reply to a question at the World Economic Forum here.
He was asked to comment on reports that the civilian government in Pakistan does not have control over the country's security establishment.
New Delhi, Jan 30(PTI) Amid various reports coming out of Pakistan on the probe into Mumbai attacks, India today said it expected Islamabad to respond officially on the outcome of its investigations rather than giving information through the media. "We have not received any information from Pakistani authorities through proper channel.
Whatever we are hearing like you is through the media. This is not the way a government can respond," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here.
He was responding when asked to comment on reports in Pakistan that the Mumbai attacks were not planned in that country. "We expect them (Pakistan) to investigate and let us know the outcome of that investigation.
Till now, we have not received any information from Pakistan," Mukherjee said. Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain Wahid Shamsul Hassan, in fact, went on record to claim that Islamabad's probe had found that Pakistani territory was not used for planning the November 26 Mumbai attacks.
India is agitated at a number of confusing reports from Pakistan, which it feels is being deliberately done to "cover up" and hide the fact that elements in that country were behind the Mumbai carnage
Melbourne: Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi overcame a sluggish start to sail into the Australian Open mixed doubles finals for second consecutive year as they beat Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy in straight sets here today.
The Indians, who were runner-up at the Melbourne Park last year, trailed 1-3 in the opening set before storming back to seal the issue in 54 minutes.
In the summit clash, they will take on the unseeded French-Israeli combine of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram, who stunned seventh-seeded Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo 7-6 (9/7) 6-4.
It was hardly the kind of start Sania and Bhupathi, who have dropped just one set en route to the semis, would have wanted as Benesova and Dlouhy broke them in the opening game to race to a 1-3 lead.
However, the Indians got their act together soon after and broke back twice to take the first set in 32 minutes.
Sania and Bhupathi continued their dominance in the second set and broke their rivals thrice.
Such was their hold over the proceedings that the Indians did not face a single break point in the second set, which they wrapped up in a mere 22 minutes.
The win makes it a double delight for Bhupathi, who along with Bahamas' Mark Knowles, has also made the men's doubles finals to be played tomorrow.
Bhupathi has six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles under his belt with different partners.
His last mixed doubles Grand Slam was incidentally the Australian Open in 2006 when he had partnered Swiss Martina Hingis. Sania, however, would be aiming for her maiden Slam title.
Colombo: Rubbishing the Sri Lankan Government's claim that it is holding civilians in Wanni as "human shields", the LTTE today said it has not imposed restrictions on anyone to leave the war zone in northern areas as Colombo set a 48-hour deadline for the rebels to surrender.
"We have been very clear that any individual who wishes to leave the combat zone has an individual right to move anywhere," Tamil Tigers' political head B Nadesan said."We have not imposed any restriction on individuals.
But, we will not be organising any 'organised exodus' against the collective will of the people who have sought refuge away from a genocidal military," he was quoted as saying by the pro-LTTE website TamilNet.Com.President Mahinda Rajapaksa had yesterday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the LTTE to surrender and allow free movement of civilians trapped in conflict areas and assured a "safe passage" to the civilians to a secure environment.
Nadesan claimed that several civilians have died without medical transport and the LTTE has been urging the ICRC, the UN and all the actors of the international community to act urgently to provide transport to the wounded.
He said yesterday that the LTTE has been urging the UN, ICRC and other international actors through all available offices to facilitate transportation for the wounded civilians in need of medical treatment to the Vavuniyaa Hospital.
Nadesan said there were "elements" seeking to feed false reports to tarnish the image of the Tigers.The rebel leader also said the LTTE has been asking the top officials of the UN and other international agencies to immediately visit the 'safety zone' and obtain the views of the civilians and make independent assessment of the needs and concerns of the civilians.
Rubbishing reports in a section of Pakistani media that Ajmal Kasab is dead, the Maharashtra government on Friday said the lone terrorist arrested in 26/11 Mumbai attacks is very much alive.
"Kasab is in Mumbai police custody and very much alive," state Home Minister Jayant Patil said.
"If any one doubts whether Kasab is alive or not, those from Pakistan Consulate can come and see for themselves that he is alive," he told mediapersons on Friday. Even the Mumbai police on Friday set to rest speculation in Pakistan media that 26/11 terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab has been killed.
"Kasab is safe in our custody," Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor told PTI. He declined to comment on Pakistani media reports saying "I have not seen or read any reports so I cannot comment on it".
He refused to say if Kasab was lodged in crime branch lock-up in Mumbai police headquarters or taken to Arthur Road jail.Earlier, certain sections of Pakistan media have claimed that "Ajmal Kasab is dead.
Whether he was killed immediately after the Mumbai attacks, or recently in custody, was still to be confirmed" by them. Pakistan media also noted that although "Kasab's custody was extended to February 2 on January 19; he was not brought to court on that occasion."
Guwahati: The Bangladesh-based HUJI militant outfit is planning to set up camps in strategic areas of lower Assam, army sources said on Friday.
Documents recovered from three HUJI 'link-men' arrested during seizure of fake currency in Barpeta district last night unearthed the outfit's plan to set up bases in strategic areas of lower Assam for subversive activities, the sources said here.
The seizure was made by army's Kumaon regiment following tip off about HUJI ultras engaged in a fake currency racket in village Sapori.The army personnel recovered the fake currency with a face value of Rs 12,000, along with a currency printing machine from a house and arrested three persons having links with HUJI.
The sources said the HUJI had planned terror strikes in the run-up to the Republic day function but increased presence of security forces and strict vigil thwarted their move.The army shared the intelligence with the police and informed the district headquarters in lower Assam to tighten security.
The three persons after interrogation have been handed over to the police.The HUJI, along with the ULFA, is suspected to be involved in recent acts of violence including last year's serial blasts in the state.
First it was Kingfisher. Then it was Desiclub. And now, it is Manish Chaturvedi’s turn to add some sizzle to the stockades. Check out the sizzling bikini babes on this hot new calendar.
The February girl for one, leaves nothing to the imagination. And the gaze suggests she has no qualms about it
Click on the thumbnails below for a journey through a whole year of dazzling damsels…
By the seaside, the lady of March seems lost in dreams 
Ankle deep in the chilling water, January’s own damsel ponders her next move
What are you looking at?...asks the April girl, perched on a rock
Take me, the May dame seems to say, as she throws herself to the wind
It’s June, and the gal seems lost at the crossroads 
In touch with the special side, check out the July lady
The wintry rock shields the August girl from the raging seas
The wind caresses the feminine form suggestive of September 
October, lazing on the mound
At the threshold of the end, in November, she gets set for a final encounter with the sea
The last stand, all set to dissolve into the shadows of the duskPerth: Australia were dethroned as the number one team in one-dayers by South Africa who demolished the hosts by 39 runs in the fifth and final match to clinch the ODI series with an emphatic 4-1 margin.
The ODI series triumph follows South Africa's 2-1 win in the Test series and though Australia remain the number one team in the longer version of the game, the Proteas return home with the new-found tag of being the top team in one dayers.
Australia needed 289 runs for a win to remain the number one side but 249 was all they managed before folding in 49 overs with Michael Hussey (78) and Brad Haddin (63) making futile efforts with the bat.
Earlier, Hashim Amla (97) and AB de Villiers (60) steadied South Africa with a 118-run stand and then JP Duminy (60 not out off 42 balls) provided the late burst as South Africa posted 288 for six wickets.
Australia faltered early in the chase and could not really recover from the early setbacks. The hosts needed a strong start from Shaun Marsh (5) and David Warner (22) but debutant South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe rocked the Australian boat with early double strikes and Ricky Ponting's men could never really recover from that.
Tsotsobe removed Marsh in the second over while Warner ran himself out in the 13th. In between, Tsotsobe returned Ponting (12) and then Michael Clarke (0) dragged a Morne Morkel onto the stumps as Australia slumped to 53 for four inside 13 overs.
The subsequent 69 runs raised by the Hussey brothers did arrest the slide for a while but Duminy broke the stand by claiming David and Tsotsobe then castled Michael. Haddin did try his best but it was too late by then. For South Africa, Tsotsobe made a memorable debut, scalping four wickets for 50 runs in his nine overs.
Earlier, after South Africa decided to bat first, Hashim Amla began with some early fours before guiding a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery over third man for a six.
The visitors had their share of early troubles as well. Hilfenhaus removed Herschelle Gibbs (7) and then James Hopes scalped Neil McKenzie (10), promoted to number three in Jacques Kallis' absence, as South Africa stuttered to 58 for two.
Displaying the same maturity that has been the hall mark of his batting, Amla retreated into a shell and resisted every temptation to go after the host bowlers. de Villiers was equally cautious even though he didn't hesitate to impose himself whenever Michael Clarke and David Hussey erred.
Hopes finally snapped the stand in the 37th over when de Villiers holed out in square leg boundary and 20 runs later, Amla joined him in the pavilion, having missed the 100-mark just by three runs.
Amla tried to guide Hopes through the cordon only to tickle it to Brad Haddin behind the stumps. Amla's 117-ball 97 included six fours and a six, while de Villiers' 71-ball 60 had four boundaries in it. ALbie Morkel (14) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (5) didn't last long either but with Duminy in scintillating form, South Africa made the most of their batting power play which yielded 53 runs.
Duminy simply went ballistic, hitting Mitchell Johnson over mid-on for a six before hoicking Nathan Bracken for two more, the last of which brought up his fifty.
Duminy eventually remained not out on 60 and his 42-ball blitzkrieg was studded with three fours and as many sixes. Thanks for his batting pyrotechnics South Africa milked 92 runs off the last 10 overs to swell their tally.
New Delhi: Amid various reports coming out of Pakistan on the probe into Mumbai attacks, India today said it expected Islamabad to respond officially on the outcome of its investigations rather than giving information through the media.
"We have not received any information from Pakistani authorities through proper channel.Whatever we are hearing like you is through the media.
This is not the way a government can respond," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here.He was responding when asked to comment on reports in Pakistan that the Mumbai attacks were not planned in that country.
"We expect them (Pakistan) to investigate and let us know the outcome of that investigation. Till now, we have not received any information from Pakistan," Mukherjee said.Pakistan's High Commissioner to Britain Wahid Shamsul Hassan, in fact, went on record to claim that Islamabad's probe had found that Pakistani territory was not used for planning the November 26 Mumbai attacks.India is agitated at a number of confusing reports from Pakistan, which it feels is being deliberately done to "cover up" and hide the fact that elements in that country were behind the Mumbai carnage.
In the RIL-RNRL case, the Bombay High Court has lifted the interim order on sale of KG D6 gas till the final judgment is passed. RIL will be allowed to sell gas in the interim period at USD 4.2 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu). The judgement is expected by mid March.
In the RIL-RNRL case, the Bombay High Court has lifted the interim order on sale of KG D6 gas till the final judgment is passed. RIL will be allowed to sell gas in the interim period at USD 4.2 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu). The judgement is expected by mid March.
“As a purely intermediate measure, the court has modified its earlier interim order, which will enable gas produced from February end to be sold in accordance with the government of India’s utilisation policy,” Mohan Parasaran, the government lawyer, said.
The government lawyer added that any sale which has to take place will be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of both the parties in the present appeals as well as in the pending suit of NTPC. “While entering into contracts, Reliance Industries will also be mentioning that those contracts will also be subject to the pending proceedings.”
Reacting to the court’s lifting of the stay, Mukul Rohatgi, RNRL’s counsel, said, “If there is any availability of gas in the next one month, RIL has been allowed to enter into contracts with third parties, not exceeding for a total value of five years, which will have a clause saying that all these contracts are subject to the rights of RNRL and if the court holds finally in the judgement that RNRL is entitled to certain rights, then these contracts will stand modified accordingly.”
RIL can enter now enter into contracts of up to a period of five years and this is the five-year period where one cannot change the gas pricing as well because the gas pricing will next come for revision after five years. So the USD 4.2/mmbtu which was decided by EGoM is applicable for the next five years and after that it comes up for revision as per the then pricing formula or the current pricing formula there.
It can enter into a long-term contract but those contracts will be at risk subject to the judgment which might go in favour of either parties.
Timeline for startup
RIL in its latest analyst meet made it very clear that analysts should consider revenues coming in from gas only from April. Even if the gas comes into by February, it is not an easy task because you need to have high pressure gas being pumped out and then pushed down. But before that it will take a month or two before it actually fills the pipeline. This is 1,400 kilometre pipeline, which comes from KG basin and goes up to the end users.
This is a swap agreement, which it might enter into with various gas producers. What it means is that even if it enters into contracts now, gas will start coming in by only April 1 or post April 1. That’s when the revenue impact on RIL will reflect. It will take at least a month or two.
It is learnt that RIL has done some basic procedures of inviting bids and there has been a lot of bids coming in from most of the private fertiliser companies especially in that belt of Andhra, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It means that by the time gas starts pumping in from KG D6, it will be April.
Chennai: The war in Sri Lanka between the army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) is spilling over onto the streets of Chennai.
A day after Muthukumar, a protestor, set himself ablaze to protest the targeting of Lankan Tamils in the conflict, the city saw a spate of protests.
Traffic was blocked on several major roads in the city by protestors. Earlier in the day Chennai Police thwarted an attack on the Sri Lankan consulate.
Thirsty-six students of Salem Law College have been arrested in connection with the attack.
Members of the Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHCAA) also held protests, burning photographs of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The advocates stayed away from the courts demanding ceasefire and protection to Lankan Tamils.
On Thursday, the MHCAA held a similar protest and cases have been filed against 50 lawyers.
Speaking to CNN-IBN over the phone, President of the Madras High Court Bar Council Prabhakaran said, "Today the entire legal fraternity in the state will go on to boycott the court activity."
"We demand that the Central government of India gets (ensures) peace in Sri Lanka and then we will ask the UN Security council to intervene and keep the UN Peace Keeing Force and to set the issue right."
"We also demand that the Central governement of India, especially the External Affairrs Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee goes there (to Sri Lanka) and set the issue right."
"The ethnic cleansing issue is rather bad in Sri Lanka and every day 100 to 200 Tamil people are killed in Sri Lanka. So far we have gone on several agitations against the government and now we are sending a warning to Rajapakse," he added.
Asked if the "pillars of constitution" were setting a bad precedent, Prabhakaran said, "No, we are blocking the roads only five or 10 minutes at a time. We are protesting to show our sentiments and our solidarity with our Sri Lankan Tamil brethren."
However, he said burning of Sonia Gandhi's photos were unintentional. "That happens in the excitement in agitations but we are not against Sonia Gandhi or any other woman. We are non-political people and we demand that the government of India should intervene to ensure peace for Tamilians in Sri Lanka," he clarified.
Asked why they were supporting the LTTE, a banned terrorist organisation, Prabhakaran said, "We are not supporting the LTTE. We are fighting for the cause of the Sri Lankan Tamils. The Sri Lankan government is promising safe passage to Tamilians but that is a wrong picture, It is the Sri Lankan army that is shooting and the people are fleeing from them."
He warned that the state and Central government should sort out the issue soon or the protests would continue.
When contacted, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Romesh Jayasinghe said, "The government has made its position very clear. The coordinates of the safe zones have been made avaialble to the LTTE. It is up to the LTTE now to allow those civilians that they are holding move to that area."
"Commanders on the ground will ensure that the civilians moving towards these zones are not shot at," he added.
Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka President Rajapakse has announced a temporary ceasefire for 48 hours
But the LTTE, which is fighting a lossing battle in Mullaittivu, is yet to respond.
New Delhi: In a new twist in the Mangalore pub attack incident, after some accused the victims and others accused the attackers, the blame is now being put on the pub-owner instead of instead of Sri Ram Sene (SRS) cheif Pramod Muthalik. The National Commision for Women (NCW) is blaming the pub-owner for not providing proper security to the women.
The head of the National Commission for Women's fact finding commission, Nirmala Venkatesh has blamed the pub-owner and holds them responsible for the attack on girls in the Mangalore pub.
Nirmala said the incident happened because of lack of security at the Mangalore pub ans she's pushing for the licence of the pub-owner to be cancelled.
"We have visited the pub and there was no security. They haven't taken any security measures and there wasn't even a security guard there. The National Women Commission is going to recommend that the pub's licence be cancelled," she daid.
Nirmala also said she met with the culprits — who are now repenting their actions — in the jail and heard their side of the story.
"I went to even meet the culprits in the jail, I was with them for more than an hour. I even councelled tham. I just wanted to know what is in their mind. I have even warned them that they are no body to take the law in their hands and beat up women," she said.
"The culprits said they did not go with then intention of beating the women, we wanted to stop the live band and other activities that are spoiling the girls. They said the women were wearing skimpy clothes and dancing and that is the reason the incident took place, said the culprits. they are now repenting their actions," she added.
Nirmala further suggested women shoud protect themselves from these kind of situations. "The lesson to be learnt for women out of this incident is that we should try and safeguard ourselves," she concluded.
Meanwhile, Muthalik denied any links with the Malegaon blasts. The Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad (ATS) team is in Mangalore to question him in the case. He has been remanded to police custody for a day and the ATS team can question him.
Muthalik was arrested for last Sunday's pub attacks; the Maharashtra ATS wants to probe his links with Col Prasad Purohit, who is the main accused in the Malegaon blasts case.
While the ATS has said that there is no direct link between the blasts and Muthalik, he was named in a conversation among the blast accused Muthalik himself has made statements sympathising with Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, another accused in the blasts.
However, Muthalik denied having any links with the Malegaon blasts, he said he had nothing to do with the blasts.
"Malegaon blast case mein mera koi haath nahi hai (I have nothing to do with the Malegaon blast)," he said.
Scotching speculation about External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's [Images] unscheduled visit to the country, Sri Lanka [Images] on Thursday said there was nothing 'secret' about it, which was aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations and to support efforts against terrorism.
"There seems to be many theories emanating about Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit. There is nothing sensational. It was a normal visit," a senior Sri Lankan minister told reporters in reply to a query.
Leader of House in Sri Lankan Parliament and Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said Mukherjee's visit was to further strengthen the good relations between India and Sri Lanka and express its support for eradicating terrorism.
"There is nothing secret about Pranab Mukherjee's visit," the minister said, adding that India itself was very keen and supportive in eradicating terrorism, of which it has been a victim.
"I was there in India when the Mumbai [Images] terror attacked took place. I found that Indian politicians are committed in eradicating terrorism," De Silva said after the Cabinet meeting.
Mukherjee had rushed to Colombo on Tuesday to discuss the latest situation in the northern part of the island nation. His visit came in the wake of strong demands by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and some other parties from the state that Mukherjee should visit Sri Lanka and prevail upon the government to seek a ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
During his talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse, Mukherjee sought an assurance from him that the safety of civilians will be kept under consideration during the offensive against LTTE [Images].
India and Sri Lanka have 'very close' friendship and share a very good relationship, De Silva said.
Minister of Mass Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said different versions had cropped up on Pranab Mukherjee's visit and that it was a normal and routine visit to further strengthen bilateral ties.
During Mukherjee's visit, the Sri Lankan government had reassured India that it would respect the 'safe zones' and minimise the effects of conflict on Tamil civilians.
Mukherjee also conveyed India's readiness to participate in the reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka 'to overcome the ravages of war' and also to 'lay the economic and political foundations of a strong peace in which all communities feel comfortable' in the island nation.
The Indian Premier League on Thursday announced a final list of 114 interested world cricketers for the second player auction to be held at Goa [Images] on February 6th 2009.
The list comprises the cream of cricketing talent from around the cricketing world including 21 Englishmen, 27 Australians, 13 South Africans, 15 Sri Lankans and an assortment of players from across the West Indies [Images], Bangladesh, New Zealand [Images] and Zimbabwe.
Indian and indeed IPL fans all over the world will for the first time be able to witness the best-of-the-best from England [Images] led by the likes of Kevin Pietersen [Images], Andrew Flintoff [Images], Steve Harmison [Images], James Anderson [Images], Monty Panesar [Images], Ravi Bopara [Images], Matt Prior [Images], Ian Bell [Images], Paul Collingwood [Images], Shaun Udal [Images], Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swan and Owais Shah [Images] who have all signed up to participate in the second edition of the DLF Indian Premier League, which is set to kick off on April 10.
The 26-strong Australian contingent up for grabs at the auction includes Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke [Images], Bradd Haddin, Nathan Hauritz [Images], Stuart Clark, Bradd Hogg, Shaun Tait [Images] and Jason Krejza [Images] amongst a host of other international stars.
South Africans Charles Langeveldt, J P Duminy, Andre Nel [Images] and Paul Harris will also be a part of the auction.
As per the guidelines set by the Governing Council for the DLF IPL 2009, each Franchisee will have a maximum purse of US $ 2 million, less any amount spent on signing temporary replacements from last year to select the cricketers best suited for their team's strategies.
Speaking on the occasion Lalit Modi [Images], Chairman & Commissioner, DLF Indian Premier League said "The enthusiasm and interest displayed by players from all around the world to participate in the second season of the league has been truly overwhelming. Clearly the DLF Indian Premier League has set new standards in helping uncover and hone some exciting new talent, that have gone on to gain international recognition, all of which augurs well for development of world cricket. We are extremely happy with the interest the league has garnered globally and look forward to the action at the second player auction in Goa."
A list of the players to be auctioned
AUSTRALIA [Images]
1 Brad Haddin
2Michael Clarke
3Nathan Hauritz
4Stuart Clark
5Brad Hogg
6Beau Casson
7Mark Cameron
8Peter Forrest
9Lee Carseldine
10Doug Bowler
11Michael Dighton
12Jason Krejza
13Nathan Reardon
14Chris Hartley
15Shaun Tait
16Ashley Noffke
17Bryce McGain
18George Bailey
19Michael Hill
20Travis Birt
21Chris Swan
22Michael Klinger
23Ben Edmondson
24Aiden Blizzard
25Mark Cosgrove
26Adam Voges
27Shane Harwood
BANGLADESH
28Tamim Iqbal
29Junaid Siddique
30Rajin Saleh
31Mehrab Hossain Jr
32Shakib Al Hasan
33Mohammad Ashraful
34Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
35Tamim Iqbal Khan.
36Shakib Al Hasan.
37Mohammad Junaid Siddique.
38Ziaur Rahman
39Mahumudullah Riyad
40Nadif Chowdhury.
41Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim.
42Mohammad Raqibul Hasan.
ENGLAND
43Ravi Bopara
44Monty Panesar
45Robert Key
46James Foster
47Tyron Henderson
48Sajid Mahmood
49Matt Prior
50Ian Bell
51Paul Collingwood
52Owais Shah
53Shaun Udal
54Darren Gough
55Ryan Sidebottom
56Graeme Swan
57Luke Wright
58Kevin Peterson
59Andrew Flintoff
60Steve Harmison
61James Anderson
62Ed Joyce
63Dominic Cork
NEW ZEALAND
64Mark Gillespie
65Tim Southee
66jesse Ryder
67Jeetan Patel
68Kyle Mills
69Chris Martin
70Jamie How
71Peter Fulton
72James Franklin
PAKISTAN
73Asim Kamal
74Yasir
75Danish Kaneria
76Mohd. Hafeez
77Yasir Arafat
SOUTH AFRICA [Images]
78Gulam Bodi
79Rory Kleinveld
80Charles Langeveldt
81Ashwell Prince [Images]
82J P Duminy
83Martin Van Jaarsveld
84Roelof Van der Merwe
85Andre Nel
86Neil Mckanzee
87Yusuf Abdullah
88Paul Harris
89Johan Botha
90Morne Van Wyk
SRI LANKA [Images]
91Thilina Thushara
91Nuwan Kulasekera
93Mahela Udawatte
94Dammika Prasad
95Thilina Kandamby
96Kaushalya Weereratne
97Jehan Mubarak
98Dilhara Lokuhettige
99Malinga Bandara
100Malinda Warnapura,
101Michael vandort
102Prassanna Jayawardane
103Upal Tharanga
104Jeevantha Kulatunga
105Kaushal Lokuarachchi
WEST INDIES
106Sylvester Joseph
107Darren Sammy
108Kieron Pollard
109Andre Fletcher
110Kieron Powell
111Fidel Edwards
112Dwayne Smith
113Kemar Roach
ZIMBABWE
114Vusi Sibanda
Roger Federer advanced to the final of the Australian Open with a 6-2 7-5 7-5 demolition of Andy Roddick on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Federer extended his head-to-head record to 16-2 against Roddick and will now be aiming to equal Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles on Sunday.
Federer, who beat the American at the same stage in the 2007 tournament before going on to lift the title, will play either world number one Rafa Nadal or Fernando Verdasco in the final.
The Spanish pair play their semi-final on Friday.
India cut fuel prices by up to 11 percent on Wednesday, its second reduction in nearly two months, as crude's $100 fall since last July gave the government a chance to pass on the benefit to consumers ahead of elections.
India's cuts followed those of Asian peer China, which in mid-January reduced prices to reflect changes in global crude rates and unveiled measures to promote fuel efficiency.
"Under the present circumstances, it has been decided to reduce the prices of petrol... and diesel," Pranab Mukherjee, who is standing in as finance minister, told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
The price of petrol was lowered by 5 rupees per litre, or 11 percent, from 45.62 rupees ($0.93) in New Delhi, while diesel will be 2 rupees, or 6 percent, cheaper from the current retail price of 32.86 rupees in the Indian capital.
Oil Minister Murli Deora said the cuts would become effective midnight.
Deora said no decision had been taken on deregulating fuel prices or changing the tax structure for the sector.
A government official had earlier said ministers were likely to end price controls on transport fuels and allow firms to set market-determined prices.
On Jan. 1, China raised the consumption tax on fuel oil sevenfold as part of a wider tax and fuel-pricing reform intended to encourage fuel efficiency and bring local prices more in tandem with international rates.
Beijing then cut gasoline and diesel prices by a few percent two weeks later, a move that analysts said could herald more frequent price changes in future.
SECOND CUT
India trimmed diesel prices by 6 percent and gasoline rates by 10 percent in early December, the first reduction in two years, after crude oil plunged from its July peak above $147.
General elections must be held by May, with a coalition headed by the Congress party pitted against its principal opposition led by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and a host of smaller parties.
Lower oil prices in a slowing economy have helped India's inflation rate drop to 5.6 percent after it galloped to a 13-year high of nearly 13 percent in August.
U.S. crude was up 0.32 percent at $41.90 a barrel at 17:39 GMT, rebounding from a 9 percent fall a day earlier, when bleak economic data from the United States, the top energy consumer, stirred demand concerns.
Crude oil prices have fallen as the global economic crisis has weakened demand, especially in developed economies.
India's economy has braked sharply in recent months, cutting demand for oil products, and GDP expansion in the fiscal year to March-end is expected to moderate to 7 percent from 9 percent levels in each of the past three years.
Crude oil imports slumped in December to their lowest in over four years despite the commissioning of Reliance Petroleum's new 580,000 barrels per day refinery.
Oil demand in Asia's third largest consumer is likely to have slowed down in January because of a strike by millions of truckers, while dealers would have trimmed inventories anticipating the cut in fuel prices
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has ruled out banning the Sri Ram Sene. Not only that, while condemning the pub attack on one hand he also said he too believes pub culture should not be allowed to grow.
“Banning such organisations will not serve any purpose. We will wait and see and then action will be taken. If they continue to do this in future, they will be reprimanded. However, the pub culture will not be allowed, but those who take law in their hands will be dealt with firmly,” Yeddyurappa said.
Noting that so far the state authorities have arrested 33 people including Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, Yeddyurappa said, "From the government's side, we have taken action and we will take strong action against anti-social elements irrespective of their religious or political affiliations."
"Sri Rama Sene has no connection with BJP or any other political party. That's an individual organisation," the Chief Minister added.
More chief ministers on Thursday joined the debate on pub culture. While Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sought to distance himself from the Mangalore incident, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit saw nothing wrong in boys and girls going out together.
Condemning the attack on women allegedly by Sri Ram Sene, Dikshit said that liquor shops should be opened in areas which were not near schools and places of worship.
"I believe that children who go to these places with the knowledge of their parents are mature enough to handle themselves," PTI quoted Dikshit as saying.
The Gehlot controversy
Under criticism that his remarks could amount to moral policing, Gehlot said in Jaipur that his move to end the pub culture in the state has nothing to do with the Mangalore case.
A day after remarking that he wanted to end the "liquor culture" in Rajasthan, for which he blamed the previous Vasundhara Raje government, Gehlot said, "My feelings have nothing to do with the Mangalore episode. My feelings are my own and in the interest of Rajasthan and its culture."
The Rajasthan CM had said he wanted to end the culture of boys and girls roaming around in malls holding hands.
A Sri Lankan soldier is seen in the newly recaptured Tamil rebel held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. While witnesses reported the killing of 250 to 300 civilians over the past week in northern Sri Lanka, Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said no civilians had been killed in the fighting, though some forced to build fortifications by the rebels _ known formally as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam _ might have been wounded in the crossfire
A Sri Lankan soldier is seen in the newly recaptured Tamil rebel held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. While witnesses reported the killing of 250 to 300 civilians over the past week in northern Sri Lanka, Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said no civilians had been killed in the fighting, though some forced to build fortifications by the rebels _ known formally as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam _ might have been wounded in the crossfire
Sri Lankan Army soldiers are seen outside a damaged church in the newly recaptured Tamil rebel held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday
A Sri Lankan soldier is seen aboard a military helicopter as they fly towards the newly recaptured Tamil rebel held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Sri Lankan soldiers of Sinha regiment are seen with their regimental flag in the newly recaptured town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009
A Sri Lankan soldiers stands guard in Mullaittivu, some 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday
Sri Lankan army soldiers walk in the rain towards the newly recaptured Tamil rebel held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka
A Sri Lankan soldier leads armored personal carriers to a recently recaptured Tamil rebel held town, in Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northeast of Colomb in Sri Lanka. 
Sri Lankan army soldiers stand guard in the newly recaptured Tamil rebel-held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (144 miles) northeast of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Army soldiers build sand bunkers in the newly recaptured Tamil rebel-held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (144 miles) northeast of Colombo in Sri Lanka on Tuesday
Sri Lankan Army soldiers stand guard in the newly recaptured Tamil rebel-held town of Mullaittivu, about 230 kilometers (144 miles) northeast of Colombo in Sri Lanka.Lahore: Three Pakistanis alleged to be Indian spies were arrested Thursday, and police said they had planned to attack an Islamist group linked to the Mumbai terrorist attack.
Lahore police chief Pervaiz Rathore told reporters here that the three men were caught in a village close to the Indian border, Geo TV reported.
He said the spies -- whose names he did not reveal -- had visited India seven times and provided photographs of "important places" to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency.
He said the men had been instructed to carry out attacks on strategic locations in Pakistan and their next target was Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a charity linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been blamed for the Mumbai terror carnage of November that killed over 170 people.
Rathore said the three Pakistanis had confessed to documenting "important assets" of the now outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa.
Another media report said they were also involved in a bombing in Lahore in 2006 that killed two people.
The Mumbai slaughter had led to unprecedented tensions between India and Pakistan.
New Delhi: Amid reports that Pakistan has rejected India's dossier holding it complicit in the Mumbai attacks, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday demanded that Islamabad should honour its deadline and disclose the findings of its internal probe.
“We have not given any deadline. It was Pakistan itself that mentioned a deadline for bringing the probe report to light,” Mukherjee told reporters when asked whether India set a deadline to Pakistan to respond to its dossier on the Mumbai attacks.
“Pakistan should honour the deadline it had given and make it public,” Mukherjee said.
"It is for them to reply."
According to Pakistani media reports, the probe conducted by the country's interior ministry has concluded that the Mumbai terror strikes were planned outside its territory. The report that was to be submitted to India by Wednesday is now likely to be shared with India by the end of this month.
Dawn TV quoted sources saying that the Mumbai attack was planned from somewhere outside Pakistan and there are apparently no references to the Lashkar-e-Toiba.
“Certain information that was provided by India and that links Mumbai attacks with Pakistan," the Pakistani news channel said. "The initial report says that there were no such things, no leads found in Pakistan. The attack was planned outside Pakistan," the channel reported.
“We are waiting for a formal response,” said an Indian official when asked about Islamabad's alleged rejection of the Indian dossier that provided information linking Pakistani nationals with the Mumbai attacks.
The report will be made public in "two to three days", Paksitan's interior ministry chief Rehman Malik said in Islamabad Thursday.
Malik told Dawn News channel that there was no "specific deadline" for making the report public and the investigators needed more time to complete their investigation. The Pakistan government had on Jan 17 given the investigation team 10 days to submit its preliminary findings.
India would be informed later this week about the outcome of Pakistan's probe into the Mumbai terror attacks that New Delhi has blamed on elements operating from Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari said Tuesday.
New Delhi: The two stimulus packages given by the government to boost the economy have started working and the economic growth in the current year is likely to be seven per cent, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also holding the charge of the Finance Ministry, said here.
"The two stimulus packages have started working...That has been reiterated by the Reserve Bank Governor while announcing the (third-quarterly review of the) credit policy," Mukherjee said after his first meeting with Minister of State for Finance P K Bansal and senior officials of the ministry at North Block.
Mukherjee took charge of the Finance Ministry as the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was looking after the finance portfolio, is recuperating from a heart surgery at the All-Indian Institute of Medical Science.The minister was briefed by the senior officials of the finance ministry on various issues, including preparation for interim budget which is to be presented in Parliament next month.
As regards economic growth, Mukherjee said, "though the economy will not grow at 8.9 or 8.8 per cent, it will grow around 7 per cent. There is no doubt about that ... Indian economy is sound and will bounce back ".
The RBI in its review of the credit policy projected a growth rate of 7 per cent for the current fiscal, down from 7.5 to 8 per cent estimated earlier.On his priority as in-charge of the Finance Ministry, Mukherjee said, "My first priority is to get the vote on account passed. That is the top most priority and it is also a constitutional requirement."
MUMBAI: Benchmarks pulled back sharply on Tuesday to close higher as investors bought heavily in frontline stocks like Sterlite Industries, Reliance
Infrastructure and Reliance Industries. Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex ended at 9007.26, up 332.91 points or 3.84 per cent. The index touched an intra-day high of 9021.97 and low of 8789.06.
National Stock Exchange’s Nifty closed at 2770.50, up 2771.05, up 92.50 points or 3.45 per cent. The broader index hit a high of 2777.30 and low of 2685.25 in trade so far. BSE Midcap Index was up 0.68 per cent and BSE Smallcap Index edged 0.36 per cent higher. Sterlite Industries (11.90%), Reliance Infrastructure (11.22%), Ranbaxy Laboratories (7.73%), Reliance Communications (7.31%) and Reliance Industries (7.01%) were the top Sensex gainers. ONGC (-3.53%) and Larsen & Toubro (-0.60%) were the major Sensex losers.
BANGALORE/NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Hindu Sena president Pramod Muthalik, which is the parent body of Sri Rama Sena, was arrested in Belgaum. He was
addressing a news conference, when the police arrived in plain clothes and whisked him away. The arrest, however, was for an old case of inciting communal disharmony. ( Watch )
"Yes, we have arrested him in connection with a case pending against him in Davangere (a district in central Karnataka)," Sonia Narang, Belgaum police superintendent, said.
Asked why he was not detained for the Mangalore attack, Narang said: "We do not have any request from Mangalore. Once we get it, we will detain him (on that count)."
Since the case against Mutalik is registered in Davangere, he will be handed over to the police there, she said.
Earlier in the day, the National Commission for Women (NCW) constituted a three-member team to investigate the alleged attack on women in a pub in Mangalore by the Sri Ram Sena. Taking strong note of the incident, the NCW has also asked the director general of police (DGP), Karnataka, to send an Action Taken Report to the commission in the matter.
The team is led by NCW member Nirmala Venkatesh and comprises of a lawyer as well as an NGO activist. "This is a horrific crime and strict punishment should be meted out to the culprits," NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas said.
Vyas said the commission would decide on the future course of action after going through the report sent by the Karnataka police. Ten more members of Sri Ram Sena, including its vice-president Prasad Attavar, have been arrested for allegedly attacking women in a pub over the weekend, taking the total number of those held to 27.
Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday hinted that the police may arrest top-most Sri Rama Sena functionaries in connection with the attack. "We will take strong action against the anti-social elements irrespective of their religious or political affiliations.
The government will not tolerate people taking law into their hands and indulging in criminal activities. We are gathering evidence on the top functionaries for the arrest," Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bangalore.
Yeddyurappa said the BJP has nothing to do with the Sena. I am telling this honestly, the party has nothing to do with the Sena, who have brought disgrace to the state, he added. On banning SRS, Yeddyurappa said all kinds of evidence is being gathered and government will think on banning the organization or not.
``Few more people have been arrested in connection with the attack. We will take every possible steps not allow such incidents happen again,'' chief minister said. The incident has sparked national outrage with the attack being termed as an act of hooliganism.
The elusive Tamil Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran is still in Sri Lanka [Images] and leading his fighters on the battlefront in Mullaittivu, a top rebel leader has said.
Describing as 'malicious propaganda' reports that Prabhkaran has fled the island, B Nadesan, the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, said, "Prabhakaran is with our people. He is still leading the freedom struggle".
Nadesan's comments to BBC over satellite telephone came amidst reports about heavy fighting between Sri Lankan forces and Tigers, who were trying to avoid total defeat.
Sri Lankan military commanders including Army Chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka have said they were unaware of Prabhakaran's whereabouts. Reports claim that Prabhakaran could have already fled the island nation by sea with the help of his arms-running network in South-East Asia.
Lankan soldiers, backed by tanks and fighters, are involved in a decisive battle to squeeze out the Tigers from the last 30-kms of forested sea-front, where they have been pushed to.
The government has said that the operation had entered its last stages, as United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon has expressed concern over the fate of an estimated 150,000-400,000 civilians trapped in the war zone.
Nadesan accused the army of 'shelling and targeting' civilian safety zones and claimed there had been large number of casualties. He ruled out the possibility of LTTE [Images] cadres laying down arms and entering negotiations with the government.
"We took up arms to safeguard our people. We need a guarantee of living with freedom, dignity and sovereignty...until that we will continue fighting," the LTTE leader said in an interview, which was the first comment from the Tigers after there disastrous retreat.
Talking about the reverses suffered by the rebels, the political chief of the LTTE said, "In a liberation war, it is normal for a force to lose territory and regain the same."
He said that in the past, the LTTE had withdrawn many times and bounced back to achieve big victories.
But, even as Nadesan was making claims that the LTTE had not lost the war, Sri Lankan navy has stepped up patrols along the coast to prevent any attempt by LTTE's top leadership to escape.
A number of South-East Asian countries including Malaysia have sounded an alert for the LTTE chief.
Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh): Prices of petroleum products are likely to be reduced soon, a step that will help bring down inflation rate further, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said on Tuesday.
"The prices of petroleum products have decreased recently and I expect that soon they will dip further," she said.
With international crude prices continuing to drop, there is speculation that government may slash petrol prices by Rs 5 per litre.
Gandhi said that despite a steep hike in the prices of international crude oil, "the Government kept it under control in the country by extending subsidy of Rs 1 lakh crore".
"I can say without hesitation that no Government has been able to achieve what the UPA regime has done in the last five years on all fronts," Gandhi said at the foundation laying ceremony of rail coach factory in Rae Bareli.
"When the world was reeling under recession, India was bound to be affected. But the UPA government has been very alert," she said, adding that there has been no reduction in bank loans to small industries, agriculture, rural development and infrastructure sectors.
Thanking Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for setting up the rail coach factory, Gandhi hoped that in the next rail budget, Prasad would bring more good news for the region.
Rahul on changing the face of Rae Bareli, Amethi
AICC General Secretary and MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi said setting up of the
rail coach factory in the district would act as a catalyst and trigger rapid industrailisation in the Rae Bareli and Amethi.
"The coach factory will change the face and fate of the two constituencies in the years to come as it will not only generate employment opportunities for thousands of youths but will also develop the area as a major centre of industrialisation," he said while addressing a rally after bhoomi pujan of the factory.
"In the last five years, Sonia Gandhi has done a lot for the development and better of the two constituencies. She makes it a point to visit her constituency every month. But the coach factory is the biggest step taken in the last five years," he said.
Rahul said a number of auxillary units would come up in the area to support the main factory once the project was executed.
"There are two more coach factories in Tamil Nadu and Kapurthala, which saw unprecedented growth in the last few years. I am sure that like Kapurthala, the coach factory here will accelerate the development of Rae Bareli district as well," he added.
Rahul, however, said the coach factory was just one step, adding similar initiatives would be taken in time to come for the development of the twin constituencies.
"With a focus on education and employment, a lot has been done on the two fronts, of which NIFT and the Petro Institute are an example," he said, adding Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has promised to set up an apprentice training centre in the area.
"Though I am an MP from Amethi but I work for both the constituencies. I feel like a junior MP of Rae Bareli," he added.
Pledging to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and interest with the Muslim world, US President Barack Obama has said Islamic nations should not consider America as their enemy.
In his first full presidential interview to a television channel in the Middle East, Obama attempted to present a humble and conciliatory face of the US to the Muslim world, where there is much resentment and animosity against America.
'I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that Americans are not your enemy,' Obama told the Dubai-based Al Arabiya television network, in a move that the mainstream US media quickly termed as his public diplomacy.'What I've said and I think Hillary Clinton has expressed this in her confirmation, is that if we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress,' Obama said.
Expressing his determination to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, Obama said it is time for the US to listen and not dictate things.
Osama's ideas are bankrupt
Obama said he will also address the Muslim world directly in his first 100 days in office from the capital of an Islamic nation. Obama said the ideas of Al Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Zawahiri, who now seem to be nervous, are bankrupt.
'There are no actions that they've taken that say a child in the Muslim world is getting a better education because of them, or has better health care because of them,' he said.
'In my inauguration speech, I spoke about: You will be judged on what you've built, not what you've destroyed. And what they have been doing is destroying things. And over time, I think the Muslim world has recognised that path is leading no place, except more death and destruction,' Obama said.
'Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries,' he said.
Referring to his stay in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, Obama said in his travels throughout the Muslim world, he had come to understand that regardless of faith all people 'have certain common hopes and common dreams'.
'What I have come to understand is that regardless of your faith -- and America is a country of Muslims, Jews, Christians, non-believers -- people all have certain common hopes and common dreams,' he said.
And thus, his job, Obama said is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives.
America made mistakes
Conceding that America had made mistakes, Obama said he will try to restore the respect and partnership the US had with the Muslim world some decades back.
'We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect. But America was not born a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that. And that I think is going to be an important task,' Obama said.
Acknowledging that people would ultimately judge him not by his words but by his actions and those by his administration, Obama said: 'Over the next several years, what you'll see is somebody who is listening, who is respectful, and who is trying to promote the interests not just of the US, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity. I want to make sure that I'm speaking to them, as well.'
